Duterte to Lucio Tan: Pay billions of unpaid airport charges in ten days

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte means business as he wants business tycoon Lucio Tan to pay the government an estimated P6.63-billion representing his company’s unpaid airport charges in ten days.

During the last three months of the 2016 presidential elections, trusted men of Tan went to see Duterte in Davao to support his bid but Duterte turned down the offer and instead avoided him.

Duterte who was the guest of honor during 56th Philippine Constitution Association event at the Manila Hotel Tuesday night emphasized he wants businessmen to pay what is due to government.

In his speech, Duterte revealed Tan offered for support as but “Sabi ko, ‘No?’ Sabi ko: ‘Thank you, but——’ And other guys there. Sabi ko, ‘You are using government buildings, airport, you have a back… back —— utang diyan sa runway ‘di mo binabayaran,” he said.

(I said No. I said, thank you, but …and other guys there. I said, you are using government buildings, airport, you have a back, debt there at the runway, you didn’t pay it.).